Energizing Planning Education in India

Abstract

Spatial planning and development activities have had a major boost due to policies of liberalization. Changes in the economy and industrial policies, and emerging globalization trends are quite visible in urban centers and in the development of special economic zones, new townships, high-tech cities, knowledge cities, cyber cities, IT cities, green Cities and smart Cities. This has created new avenues and opportunities for town and country planning educators. Furthermore, urban population is likely to increase from present 377 million to 600 million by 2031 and 900 million by 2051. Number of cities and towns, which increased from 5,161 in 2001 to 7,993 in 2011, will become more than 10,000 by 2021. In addition, devolution of planning functions to urban local bodies and gram panchayats under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts would further expand spatial planning and development activities. All these developments clearly indicate that the importance of the profession of town and country planning would gain respectability. It is imperative to look at the challenge of educating and training planning manpower as quality of manpower, among other things that would determine the economic progress in the country. This chapter examines the human resource development requirements and challenges faced by the planning educators and planning schools.